gotcha ! !

Well yesterday was our "gotcha" day, and boy was it LONG!!  We left Nikolaev at 6am and went to the towns where Kenzie and Sawyer were born, that took most of the day as they were in opposite directions from each other and it was very foggy.  Sometimes you could barely see the car in front of you!  When we got back to Nikolaev we went to the notary,then to the baby house to get permission to withdraw money from bank.  The government gives each orphan money and we donate it back to the orphanage in the children's name.  Let me tell ya' there were some ticked off Ukrainians at the bank!  We were short on time, so Sasha called ahead and made an "appointment", which really means we just got permission from the bank to cut to the front of the line........ it must have been payday or something because the bank was full!  So in we go, right to the front, we're both the smallest people in there and I'm obviously foreign with not even a coat on.  They take FOREVER, people are getting angry, and they give us the biggest stack of money I've ever seen!  Sasha says "go! go very fast! "  the car is literally right outside the door on the sidewalk and off we go!  Back to the baby house to the accountant for a receipt ( 40,000 gr), sign some more papers ( i have NO idea what ), and of to the passport office which closes at 5 and its 4:30.  Sasha called ahead and explained to them that we were coming and the director agreed to wait,  when we got there he told Sasha that he could only give one child a passport and the other one would be here next week!  What?? "Ha Ha !  I'm just kidding " he says, she wanted to kick him!  Really though,  Sasha thinks we got the VERY last one day passports!  Thank goodness!  By the time we left the passport office it was after 5:30, the train leaves at 7.  We went to my apartment and literally threw everything in the suitcase and garbage bags and headed for the baby house.  Once we got there, we gave the nannies the children's clothes so that I could go meet with the Dr. to get their medications and instructions.  Well you know darn good and well that those kids weren't getting out of there without eating!  The nannies promised to feed them quickly and dress them while I was with the Dr. , that was an interesting meeting from nursing standpoint!  They are very particular how the meds should be given, and how to mix them.  It took me a while to understand what they were trying to tell me because it just goes against everything I've ever been taught as a nurse!  Eventually I got it and it's all written down for me.... in Russian!   Then it was time!  The moment I've  been dreading and looking forward to for SO long.  The nannies had the kids dressed and ready to go, all of their groupa was there, the nannies, and some of the staff.  We said our goodbyes,  I told the nannies thank you from me and all of my family,  yes the nannies and I cried and we walked out of the baby house for the LAST time.  I will finish the story and post pictures later, we made it and we all survived!  My parents should be here in about an hour and I am going to get the kids fed.